Latest news with #Embiid
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where does Sixers star Joel Embiid rank on top 100 players list?
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has accomplished a lot in his career. Despite the injuries holding him back at the most inopportune times, the superstar big man has led the league in scoring twice, won the MVP award in 2023, and finished second in MVP in 2021 and 2022. Embiid was on his way to winning MVP again in 2024 as he was dominating at such a high level. He was closing games out in the third quarter and sitting out the fourth. He was playing at an other-worldly level before suffering the knee injury in January of that year. When looking at Embiid's career, Bleacher Report ranked him No. 66 on their top 100 players of all time list: The best stretch of Embiid's career came from 2020-21 to 2022-23, when he finished second, second and first in MVP voting and was the clear top challenger to Nikola Jokić's incredible run during that same span. Embiid had loads of physical advantages when healthy, including balletic footwork, shooting touch and pure strength. But he also developed serious craft and led the league in made free throws three times and is the current all-time leader in career free-throw makes per game at 8.3. With games played totals of 39 in 2023-24 and just 19 this past season, Embiid is struggling to stay on the floor more than ever. He's a Hall of Famer if he never plays another game. When looking back at Embiid's career whenever he does decide to hang it up, one will likely believe it was more of a "what if?" type of situation. If only the big fella had ever stayed healthy for one playoff run, he probably would have led the Sixers to their first venture past Round 2 since the 2001 run to the finals led by Allen Iverson. Instead, the Sixers are waiting to see if Embiid will be healthy and ready to go for the 2025-26 season after undergoing a second knee surgery in a span of 14 months back in April.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Former 76ers star uncovers brutal truth about Joel Embiid's Injury Ordeal - "I have no idea how he could even walk!"
Joel Embiid (Image via Facebook / @Joel Embii) Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has long been admired for his dominance on the court, but new information reveals just how much he has endured to stay there. Recently, former teammate Nicolas Batum shed light on the full extent of Embiid's health challenges—offering a sobering account of pain, perseverance, and the physical sacrifices behind the scenes. The picture that emerges is one of extraordinary endurance in the face of adversity that was largely hidden from public view. How Joel Embiid's Career Has Been Plagued by Injuries Injuries have shadowed Joel Embiid's entire career, starting with a stress fracture in college that delayed his NBA debut by two full seasons. Over the years, the list has only grown longer: meniscus tears, bone bruises, shoulder sprains, orbital fractures, tendinitis, and most recently, a battle with Bell's Palsy—a condition that can cause facial paralysis, vision issues, and debilitating migraines. The 2023–24 season marked a low point. A torn meniscus required surgery in February 2024, yet Embiid rushed back for the playoffs—far from full strength and clearly laboring. He managed just 19 appearances in the 2024–25 season, falling well short of his MVP standard. Inside the Locker Room: Batum Speaks Out Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers (Image via Getty) The full extent of Joel Embiid's physical condition was kept mostly under wraps—until Batum spoke with ESPN's Dotun Akintoye. His firsthand account was striking. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo 'I saw his knee before every game, after every game,' Batum revealed. 'I have no idea how he could even walk.' The repeated astonishment in Batum's words emphasized that Embiid's condition wasn't just painful—it was nearly unplayable. Unseen Pain and Systemic Breakdown Beyond the knee, Embiid dealt with blurry vision, headaches, and chronic insomnia due to his left eye failing to close at night. His swollen knee required relentless care, and insiders suggest the true scope of his suffering went well beyond public reports. 'It's his knee, it's his eye, it's his whole system,' a Sixers team therapist explained, highlighting how the superstar's body was struggling on multiple fronts. Despite the severity of his condition, Embiid rarely spoke about it. His silence masked ongoing grief, sleep deprivation, and moments where he considered whether he could continue at all. Fallout for the Sixers Embiid's compromised health had immediate consequences. The Sixers finished with just 24 wins in 2024–25—missing the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Embiid's individual stats (23.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game) were still impressive by league standards, but far from the dominance fans had come to expect. Glimmers of Hope Despite the grim details, there is cautious optimism within the Sixers organization. Team president Daryl Morey recently confirmed that Embiid is progressing well in rehab and is expected to be ready for training camp in September 2025. With the return of Tyrese Maxey and the addition of Paul George, Philadelphia hopes to reignite its championship ambitions—if Embiid can stay healthy. Also read: Damian Lillard Returns to Portland Trail Blazers on Three-Year, $42 Million Deal Featuring No-Trade Clause Joel Embiid's journey is now defined not just by stats or accolades, but by the sheer resilience he's shown in the face of relentless adversity. The recent revelations from Batum and others lift the veil on what Embiid has truly endured—offering a deeper appreciation for a player whose fight to compete has been as remarkable as his game itself. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
NBC Sports
4 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Patient Joel Embiid says no timeline set for his return, but hopes it's 'sooner rather than later'
Philadelphia is the hardest team to project in next season's Eastern Conference. If healthy, they are legit title contenders — but 'if' is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence. Paul George has had offseason knee surgery. As for former MVP Joel Embiid, he is taking a more patient approach with his body this season, following knee issues and an eventual surgery that limited him to 19 games last season. In a fantastic in-depth profile of Embiid by Dotun Akintoye at ESPN, Embiid said he was going to be patient with getting his body right for this season, but that means there is no timeline for his return. 'We're not going to push anything,' he says. 'For my whole career, I felt like we never took that approach... 'We don't have a timeline,' Embiid tells me. 'Hopefully, sooner rather than later.' The 76ers are hopeful that timeline will have him back for training camp in September. That's also when George will be re-evaluated. Pain in his left knee had sidelined Embiid at the start of last season — coming off winning a gold medal with USA Basketball at the Paris Olympics, where his defense on Nikola Jokic in the Serbian game was critical — but he eventually played 19 games spaced out between November and February. When he did he was his dominant self, averaging 23.8 points and 8.2 rebounds a game, but the pain became too much and he had knee surgery that ended his season. Embiid wants to be playing at the end of the season, in the playoffs, and hopes this patient approach gets him there. He's also dictating to the team, this is how things are going to go. 'The only thing I'd say is -- this is a business,' Embiid tells me. 'It's all about the results. ... If I come back early enough and I'm still not myself, guess what? You're not winning any games.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Joel Embiid Provides Revealing Update On 76ers Return
The Philadelphia 76ers' upcoming season will hinge on the health of Joel Embiid and Paul George. With George undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after suffering an injury during a recent offseason workout, attention is now turning to Embiid's timeline to return from his own knee injury. Embiid played in just 19 games last season after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee the previous year. He would rush back for the playoffs in Philadelphia's series loss to the New York Knicks. Even though he played for Team USA at the Summer Olympics and won a gold medal, Embiid wasn't ready for the start of the 2024-25 year. He was not right for most of the season and was eventually shut down in February. Embiid would then end up undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April. Last week, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey told reporters he was optimistic that Embiid would return for the start of training camp in September, despite the seven-time All-Star having yet to start basketball-related activities. In a wide-ranging interview with ESPN's Dotun Akintoye, Embiid provided an update on his recovery. 'We're not going to push anything,' Embiid said. 'For my whole career, I felt like we never took that approach.' He added: 'We don't have a timeline. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.' With Embiid using a patient approach to his recovery instead of rushing back like he previously has, he told Akintoye that he doesn't know if the 76ers organization will support it. 'I don't know how they feel. The only thing I'd say is — this is a business,' Embiid said. 'It's all about the results. … If I come back early enough and I'm still not myself, guess what? You're not winning any games.' Since getting drafted third overall in 2014, Embiid has missed nearly 50% of regular season games, including his first two years in the league. Related Headlines Caitlin Clark's Brother Points Direct Finger for His Sister's Injuries Roster Bubble: 5 NFL Veterans Fighting for Their Jobs in 2025 76ers Put Intern in Charge of Rookie Joel Embiid's Rehab While He Pleaded for Help on Ailing Foot Washington Commanders' Star Thinking of Skipping Training Camp
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Why did James Harden stop talking to Joel Embiid?
Once upon a time, for a short while, Joel Embiid and James Harden made sweet basketball music together. As the dynamic duo of the Philadelphia 76ers, the superstar center and the floor general point guard had impeccable chemistry. But at the start of the 2023-2024 NBA season, the 76ers broke them up when they traded Harden away to the L.A. Clippers. Unfortunately, according to Embiid, it sounds like Harden might have blamed the big man for Philadelphia giving up on him. In a new profile from ESPN's Dotun Akintoye, while also dispelling his "playoff dropper" narrative, Embiid made the heartbreaking claim that Harden has apparently cut him off. It's not clear exactly when they stopped talking, but it's probably safe to assume that it happened around exactly when Harden was dealt in early November 2023. All of this is, of course, Embiid's assumption and timeline. Given how close Embiid and Harden appeared to be during their time in Philadelphia, this reality unsurprisingly stings the former MVP center: "No one knows this, but even James [Harden] is not talking to me," Embiid tells me. "That's the part I don't like about being 'that guy,' because it puts you in the middle of those situations. Because if you ask James, he probably believes I had something to do with him not being here. And I'm just like, 'I won the scoring title. You won the assists title. We had a pick-and-roll that was unstoppable.'" "It hurts when you feel like you haven't done anything wrong," he continues. "When you think you have a relationship like that with somebody ... you lose a lot." Man, that's so tough to hear. Sure, Harden went across the country to another team in another conference after he started to get settled in Philadelphia. And yes, we might not have Harden's side of the story. But if Embiid's account is true, it seems pretty unfair for Harden to blame all of that happening on someone he used to be so close with. Usually, you give people close to you more grace than that. Alas, sometimes that's life. You don't get to choose who walks in or out.
